- Owner Kenneth Ramsey continues to be active at the meeting. He, and trainer Michael Maker (17-6-2-1, 35%), took Monday's opener with Last Tram ($7.30); another one for the connections dropping in claiming price (and not claimed). Ramsey/Maker also claimed beaten favorite (2nd) Titans of Industry for 35K from the 5th; and 8th race winner Bishop's Back for the same price. In Wednesday's first, the connections send out Flibberjibit, showing an extremely similar pattern to Last Tram - dropping in class after moving up sharply off a maiden claiming win.
- Reader Glimmerglass asks: "..Did you think that Country Star's number should've been taken down in the 7th? On tv with the replay she looked like a drunken sailor on leave in the stretch." Well, I'm not objective since runner-up Marie Rossa (9-2) was my best bet of the day, and a single in a number of Pick Threes and Fours (all of which I would have lost anyway). I incorrectly thought that Frankel's filly was a solid bet-against off her two disappointing efforts this year. And I'm determined to make some money on Marie Rossa's trainer Graham Motion before the meet ends. I pointed out the other day that the barn broke an 0-16, and seemed poised to find the winner's circle. No such luck over the weekend, but he did have fine seconds with this filly and with Better Talk Now in the Sword Dancer. Motion starts Icabad Crane in the Albany Handicap on Wednesday; Big Truck also shows up for Barclay Tagg.
But no, I'm not surprised that Country Star didn't come down - though I was surprised that there was no steward's inquiry. Though she certainly didn't keep a straight path, I don't think that Motion's filly would have caught her in any event; she held her winning margin safe like the champ we once thought she could be.....and could be again. Frankel indicated that the Gazelle could be next....and she could meet Music Note there. Proud Spell is a possibility for the Cotillion at Philly Park.
- I loved Redefined in the 6th, the state-bred Mechanicville, and would have been right on had four Linda Rice horses not finished in front of her. Ooooo, so close!
- Pletcher got his 12th winner (from 52 starters, his usual 23% or so) of the meeting when Big Wig survived a wide trip from the ten hole to take the 5th.
- Nice effort by first timer Dr. Decter in the 10th, recovering from a slow start for a close third at 8-1 for Tagg. Making a delayed debut at the age of four, this NY-bred gelding has some interesting turf bloodlines: By the NY stallion Gold Fever (Forty Niner), he's a half to the dam of the Saranac and Singspiel winner Mission Approved; and his dam, by Spectacular Bid, is a half-sister to the multiple-multiple G1 turf winner El Senor. Keep an eye on this one stretching out far beyond the 5 1/2 furlongs he ran here.
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Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Saratoga Notes
Posted by Alan Mann at 8:03 AM
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4 Comments:
Speaking of your comment on Redefined, I wondered how the public could have let Ahvee's Destiny go off at 9 to 1 when she
clearly is in raging form and performed well at Saratoga last year and was piloted by Johnny V. Oh well, I was glad to collect on the exacta but didn't have the guts to go all the way with the four horse super. Funny after the race while Linda Rice was in the winner's circle, Tom Durkin announced the super payoff and said over the speaker system, "I sure hope you had it Linda" at which point Linda looked up and laughed.
Rice says that she doesn't bet her own horses. It is in today's NY Post. Sorry Alan - but Country Star did nothing wrong. They let a lot of stuff go up at the SPA. I felt what the Dutrow horse did in the feature was far worse.
Bob from NJ
I thought there was a stewards' inquiry, but then again it could have been just a straight "objection" by Dominguez.
Will they have a memorial service at the Spa for Parker Buckley?
There has been a lot of misinformation by so called racing journalists regarding the matter. For example, the DRF writer wrote that he was conscious and fell into a coma later on. Other publications have it that he was put into a coma by doctors.
Buckley's death should receive just as much press as Macho Again's workout, if not more. What would happen to these exercise riders should they come out of a coma but be debilitated for the rest of their lives? What type of insurance or coverage is for them?
Any chance Jess Jackson helps pay for the funeral of Buckley? He was after all going to donate $50 K if Curlin ran and lost against Big Brown.
So, Toad Porker (Sp) finally got up to his usual 23% winners. Good; that means the local amphibian population can relax a bit!
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